Overseas auds bounce for ‘Jumper’

20th Century Fox film nets $28.2 million

Duplicating its domestic success, “Jumper” leaped easily over international rivals with a launch weekend of $28.2 million at 2,800 playdates in 30 markets.

The sci-fi actioner dominated mostly moderate foreign biz with a per location average of better than $10,000 and first-place launches in every territory. “Jumper” took in more than the combined total of the three next highest grossers — “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” “27 Dresses” and “Cloverfield.”

The frame also saw continued solid offshore takings from Oscar contenders, led by Fox’s “Juno” banking another $6.3 million from 1,111 to lift the foreign take to $28.1 million. The comedy’s already shown impressive traction with the Brit soph sesh sliding only 12% to $2.8 million and the second French frame rose 8% to $1.3 million.

Par’s “No Country for Old Men” hunted down $4 million at 1,396 to cross the $30 million international mark. And Disney, which is handling “There Will Be Blood” overseas, saw $3.4 million at 570 with limited launches in 13 markets, including sixth place finishes in the U.K. and Brazil.

“Jumper” transported its top figures from the U.K. with $6.2 million, South Korea with $4.8 million, Spain with $3.7 million, Australia with $3 million, Russia with $2.7 million and Taiwan with $1.3 million. Fox Intl. co-prexy Paul Hanneman said “Jumper” had outperformed internal expectations and gave credit to a marketing campaign that stressed the pic’s teleportation theme in key locations such as Cairo, Rome, London and New York.

Prospects appear bright for “Jumper” in lights of the strong performance of sci-fier “I Am Legend,” which has topped $323 million in offshore box office since its December launch. “Jumper” opens next weekend in Belgium, France and Scandinavia.

Disney’s “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” finished a distant but decent second with $12.4 million at 2,869 in 44 markets, led by first-place French launch of $5.7 million and a second Brit frame of $3.2 million, down 35%. “Secrets” has topped $200 million overseas, the 26th Mouse House pic to hit the milestone, and moves into its final market in China on March 17.

Fox’s “27 Dresses” charmed its way to $7 million at 1,700 in 21 markets, led by a $2.8 million German launch and a $1.6 million first-place Mexican debut. “Dresses” has totaled $23.5 million early in its foreign run with most of Europe opening in March.

Scare fare fans continued to support Par’s “Cloverfield” with $7 million at 3,071 in 52 markets, led by $1.5 million in its second French frame. The horror vehicle’s international cume has hit $68 million — $9 million short of the domestic total.

“Sweeney Todd” sliced up $6.8 million at 2,300 in 48 territories, including a $1.8 million Spanish debut to push Warner’s foreign cume to $70 million, 35% better than the domestic total. German and Italian launches are set for next weekend.

Two other pics went day and date overseas on a more limited basis — Universal’s romancer “Definitely, Maybe” showed traction with $3 million at 571 with a $1.4 million opening in Australia and a $1 million soph sesh in the U.K. Par’s “Spiderwick Chronicles” opened in South Korea with a moderate $1.2 million at 150.

A trio of pics midway through their international runs topped $3 million — Warner’s “Bucket List” scooped up $4.1 million at 1,677 from 20 markets for a $26.3 million cume, U’s “Charlie Wilson’s War” shot up $3.8 million at 1,580 in 38 markets for a $32.6 million total; Sony’s “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep” swam in with $3.8 million at 1,855 in 29 markets for a $22.4 million cume.